Re: Should I use a Sanskrit, or English mantra when using a japa mala?
namaste WTyler.
The definition of a mantra is:
"mananAt trayate iti mantra"
manana--thinking, reflection, meditation; trayata--protect.
"When reflected/contemplated/meditated/chanted, it protects, that is mantra."
Generally, any language can be used for litany and meditation, and one's mother tongue is always the best since it is the closest, with the only requirement that the words used evoke the right spiritual truths and connections without unnecessary worldly associations.
For example, reflection on the words 'I am' should evoke the knowledge, feeling and finally the realization 'I am That'--tat tvam asi, or ahaM brahmAsmi, and not let the mind digress to the worldly roles that I am involved in. Similar is the case with the other phrases of reflection you have indicated: that is, they must convey the transcendental spiritual truths to the mind and have the power to retain the meandering mind on them.
Sanskrit mantras, even if their meanings are not understood, have this power of spirituality behind them in a way that is natural and inherent, the only requirement being that the pronunciation be right. If the meaning of the words is known, the mantra's power increases exponentially, because the sAdhaka--seeker, now refelects on the words, meanings and their spiritual associations.
Some universal Sanskrit mantras:
ahaM brahmAsmi -- "I am Brahman."
tat tvam asi -- "That thou art".
gAyatrI mantra -- http://www.mantraonnet.com/mantras-u...#gayatrimantra
AUM asato mA sadgamaya |
tamaso mA jyotirgamaya |
mRutyor mA amRutam gamaya |
AUM shAntiH shAntiH shAntiH ||
"Lead me from untruth to Truth;
Take me from darkness to light;
from death to immortality;
May there be peace in all the three worlds."
lokA samasta sukhino bhavantu -- "May all the world rest in happiness."
There are many other universal mantras, but they are rather long, so I have provided only the shorter ones that are easy to memorize and chant.
रत्नाकरधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
ब्रह्मराजर्षिररत्नाढ्यां वन्दे भारतमातरम् ॥
To her whose feet are washed by the ocean, who wears the Himalayas as her crown, and is adorned with the gems of rishis and kings, to Mother India, do I bow down in respect.
--viShNu purANam
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